Compound including hydrocarbon



Nov. 3, 1936. R. H. RUSSELL 2,059,535

COMPOUND INCLUDING HYDROCARBQN Filed Feb. 4, 1930 4 SheetS-Sheet 1 Nov. 3, 1936. R. H. RUSSELL COMPOUND INCLUDING HYDROCARBON Filed Feb. 4, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Il...ll'l..11111111111111111111..

Nov. 3, 1936. R. H. RUSSELL 2,059,535

COMPOUND INCLUDING HYDROCARBON Filed Feb. 4, 1930 4 SheelS-Sl'leell 3 Nov. 3, 1936. R. H. RUSSELL 2,059,535

COMPOUND INCLUDING HYDROCARBON Filed Feb. 4, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMPOUND INCLUDING HYDROCARBON Robert H. Russell, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Gas Fuel Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February 4, 1930, Serial No. 425,857

Claims. (Cl. 44-9) This invention relates to emulsied comand more particularly pointed out in the appendpounds including hydrocarbons, and to a novel ed claims. method of making and treating such com- Referring to the drawings, pounds. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view It is Well known that at the present time, oil of a mixer which I have devised for use in pro- 5 emulsions are generally treated in order to deducing the compounds. hydrate the same. The dehydration methods Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view of may be classied into six groups, as follows: 1, the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. gravity settling; 2, heat treatment; 3, electrical Fig. 3 is a perspective view of such a mixer treatment; 4, chemical treatment; 5, centrifugal combined with the means for forcing the oil, 1( treatment; and 6, filtration. It has been found water and gas into the mixer; this view being necessary to treat emulsified oils by such methods taken from one side of the apparatus. before subjecting the oil to refining processes. Fig. 4 is a similar view taken from the other One of the objects ofthe present invention is side of the apparatus. to incorporate such emulsied oils in emulsied 'I'he device employed for producing compounds 1| compounds which may be directly treated in of the type forming part of the present invenorder to burn the same, produce a fixed gas, or tion, comprises a closed chamber l5, (see Figs. 1 to rene the oil without the necessity of dehyand 2), capable of withstanding relatively high drating the emulsiiied oil. super-atmospheric pressures, and provided with Furthermore, I have found that in processing horizontally disposed rotatable shafts I6 which 2 relatively heavy oils, for instance, low grade and extend longitudinally of the casing, and are low specific -gravity hydrocarbons, such as heavy mounted in suitable bearings I1, I8. Each of crude petroleum, oil field emulsions, still bottoms these shafts is provided along its length With a and the like, it is advantageous to thoroughly multiplicity 0f aeitatine blades or arms I9. and mix the same 'with aqueous fluids, providing the when the shafts are rapidly rotated, preferably in 2 mixture is admixed with a gaseous agent such the same direction, these blades will violently stir as air, CO2 or, the like. For example, I have any uids within the casing. discovered that if heavy hydrocarbons, water and In accordance with the present invention, for a suitable gas are thoroughly agitated in the example, low grade and low specific gravity hypresence of one another under super-atmospheric drocarbons, such as heavy crude petroleum, oil 3 pressure, that a compound will result, in-which field emulsions, still bottoms and the like, which each globule of gas or other elasticuid is coated are ordinarily unsuitable or uneconomical for use with a film of water arranged within a film or as fuels or rening, are introduced into the cascoating of the oil, and this compound will remain ing through the oil inlet 20, and water or any in such condition indenitely, so that it may be other suitable aqueous liquid is introduced 3 immediately or subsequently used for fuel purthrough the inlet 2|. p poses; may be processed to produce a fixed gas, or If the oil is of a very viscous nature, its uidmay be refined for the purpose of converting the ity may be increased in the casing by heat emaheavy hydrocarbons into lighter hydrocarbons. nating from a heating coil 22, which extends lon- By adding suitable hydrocarbons for instance, gitudinally of the interior of the lower portion of 4 to the heavy oils which are to form constituents the casing. This heating coil may also be used of the compound, I can also obtain from the refor heating the interior of the casing, whenever iining of the compound, motor fuels having dedesired, for the purpose of improving the coalessired characteristics. For example, if benzole is cence of the substances which are to be admixed mixed with the heavy oil that forms a constituinto the compound.

ent of the compound, and this compound is sub- If the mixing process is carried on as a batch sequently refined, for instance, by a cracking opoperation, a suitable quantity of compressed air eration, motor fuels extracted from the refining or other suitable gas will be introduced into the process will have benzole characteristics, that is, casing through an inlet 23, and after the desired anti-knock properties. proportions of oil, aqueous liquid and gas are inl With the foregoing objects outlined and with troduced, the shafts I6 will be rapidly rotated to other objects in view which will appear as the cause the blades to violently agitate the contents description proceeds, the invention consists in of the casing, so as to force the constituents of the novel'features hereinafter described, in dethe compound to coalesce and tenaciously adtail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, here to one another. Under the microscope it l 2f: has been found that the gas, such as air, due to the agitation, will disperse and form globules or bubbles, each one of which will be coated with a. film of water contained within a skin of oil, and it has been found that a compound of this nature will remain in the foamy condition indenitely. Actually, such a compound has remained In stable condition for a period of more than a year without any noticeable stratification.

The amounts of air and water used in the compump 26 is arranged at one side of the casing I5, as shown in Fig. 3, and at the opposite side of she casing,'the oil pump 28 is-located, as shown .n Fig. 4. The intake 29 of this pump is coniected to any suitable oil supply, while the out- .et pipe 30 of the pump leads to the inlet 20 of ;he casing.

To facilitate proper proportioning of the oil md Water I prefer to employ pumps of variable :apacity and the piston rods of these pumps may )e driven by connecting rods 3| which have their iuter ends pivotally connected to cranks 32 that Jroject from opposite sides of a gear casing 33. ['he latter is mounted on a suitable support 34 at me end of the casing I5, and the gearing which irives the cranks 32 is rotated by means of any ',uitable prime mover, such as an electric motor I5, positioned on the platform 34.

The shafts I6 of the agitator may be driven by my suitable means such as an electric motor 36 arranged at the opposite end of the casing, and nounted on the casing is a motor driven com- )ressor 31 that is employed to force\the air or )ther gas through the inlet 23 of the agitator :asing.

Suitable temperature pressure, etc., gauges, nay be employed with such apparatus, but form io part of my invention. I may state however, yhat in operating the agitator, Whether for the )atch or continuous process, the oil, water and :as should be introduced in proper proportions, Ind in the casing I5, should be operated upon mder pressure to produce the compound which nay be subsequently used as fuel, or as charging tock for gas making or oil refining.

Referring again to Fig. 1, it will be noted that he interior of the casing I at the end opposite vhere the oil and Water enters, is provided with I. depending imperforate partition 38 which co-a perates with an upstanding weir 39, over which he mixture flows into an outlet compartment 40 which communicates with an outlet pipe 4I that onveys the compound from the lower portion of4 have devised novel methods-and apparatus for roducing a compound of hydrocarbons, air or thergas, and an aqueous liquid, that may be sed as a fuel, for the production of gas for illumination, heating, etc., and for the production of rened petroleum products.

The invention permits the production of a fuel from low grade and low specific gravity hydrocarbons, such as heavy crude petroleum, oil field emulsions, still bottoms and the like, which are ordinarily unsuited for use in fuels or refining. The invention also allows of the production of a compound from the same loW grade starting stocks, which may be economically used for the production of illuminating and heating gas, and for the production -of refined petroleum products. a For the purpose of producing a fuel, by way of repetition, it may be stated briefly that heavy crude petroleum, still bottoms or like hydrocarbons, and water, areY pumpedjnto a mixer andV thoroughly agitated in the presence of air or any other suitable gas under super-atmospheric. pressure, the pressure required depending upon the nature of the hydrocarbons undergoing treatment. Likewise, the amount of water that may be put into the mixture depends upon the character of the hydrocarbons. With particularly heavy" hydrocarbons, it will be necessary to preheat the same to, increase its iiuidity to permit it to be properly handled by the pumps.

Upon proper agitation for a suilicientY length of time, the compound is formed, and it is substantially permanent in character, and does not tend to separate. Microscopic examination indicates that the compound is composed of minute globules of lair or other gas, surrounded by films of water and oil, in the order named.

'I'he compound ythus produced may be stored or, if desired, may be consumed as produced.

If refined petroleum products are desired, as the end products, the initial procedure, so far as the production of the compound is concerned, is the same as when the compound is to be produced for fuel purposes, that is, a. compound composed of hydrocarbons, water and gas is made, and to the same is added other elements that may be desired in the end products, for example, benzole.

On the other hand, as before stated, if itis desired to produce gas, then some gas such as natural gas, water gas or blue gas, is substituted for the heated air in the mixer, so that the compound includes such gas instead of air.

By heavy liquid hydrocarbons. in the followingclaims, I means low grade and low specic gravity hydrocarbons, such as heavy crude petroleum, oil eld emulsions, still bottoms and the like. I have found that such heavy liquid hydro- 'carbons have sumcient strength and tenacity to maintain the globule condition over extended periods of time. f

While I have disclosed the principle of my invention, as well as my method in such manner that they may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, I am aware that changesmay be made in the details disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the Iinvention, as expressed in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secre by Letters Patent is: i

1. A process of producing a substantially per- I manent emulsifled compound comprising mixing and thoroughly beating an aqueous liquid, a heavy hydrocarbon liquid and a gas under superatmospheric pressure, and continuing the beating for a suicient length of time to form arremulsified compound substantially permanent in character and one in which the components do not tend to separate.

2. A process of producing a substantially permanent emulsied compound composed of a combustible mixture of water, heavy liquid hydrocarbons and a gas, consisting in vigorously beating the water and hydrocarbons ln the presence or the gas while under super-atmospheric pressure for a sufficient length of time to form an emulsified compound which is substantially permanent in character and which does not tend to stratify.

3. A substantially permanent emulsifed compound consisting of heavy liquid hydrocarbons, aqueous liquid and a gas, the gas being in minute globules surrounded by lms of the aqueous liquid and the heavy liquid hydrocarbons in the order named.

4. A substantially permanent emulsied compound comprising a multiplicity of minute gas globules surrounded by iilms of water and heavy hydrocarbon oil in the order named.

5. A substantially permanent emulsified compound comprising a multiplicity of minute gas globules surrounded by lms of water and heavy hydrocarbon oil in the order named, said emulsied compound being formed by a continuous beating operation under super-atmospheric pressure.

ROBERT H. RUSSELL. 

